Market Likely To Open In Green

Indian equities markets extending its winning streak to the fifth straight day on the back of continued buying by participants amid a mixed trend in global markets after the US Fed kept its near-zero benchmark interest rate unchanged. The Sensex was up 283.17 points or 1% at 27115.83 and the Nifty was up 83.05 points or 1% at 8174.60. The broader markets also saw buying interest. The BSE mid-cap and small-cap indices jumped 0.8 and 1 per cent each respectively.

U.S. stocks advanced sharply on Thursday, a day after the Federal Reserve signaled that interest rates would rise more slowly than many had expected. The Nasdaq Composite gained 68.07 points, or 1.3% to 5,132.95 and the Russell 2000 rose 15.88 points, or 1.3% to 1,284.17. The S&P 500 rose 20.80 points, or 1%, to 2,121.24. The Dow Jones Industrial Average DJIA jumped 180.10 points, or 1%, to 18,115.

The number of Americans filing new claims for unemployment benefits fell more than expected last week, pointing to a tightening labor market. Weekly applications for jobless aid dropped 12,000 to a seasonally adjusted 267,000, the Labor Department said Thursday, near 15-year lows reached two months ago. The four-week average, a less volatile measure, declined 2,000 to 276,750. Benchmark U.S. crude rose 53 cents to close at USD 60.45 a barrel in New York. Brent crude rose 39 cents to close at $64.26 in London.

European stock markets closed higher ahead of a key meeting of eurozone finance ministers, where Greece is high on the agenda. Asian stock markets closed mostly lower. The Stoxx Europe 600 closed 0.1% higher after touching a four-month low earlier in the session. London's FTSE 100 index closed around 0.4% higher, with the French CAC closing around 0.3% higher. Germany's benchmark DAX index closed up around 1.1%. Greek stocks closed around 0.4% higher, despite slipping around 2.7% in earlier trade.

Asian shares outside Shanghai surged on the final trading day of the week, following gains in U.S. shares, as investors awaited a Bank of Japan policy decision. Japan’s Topix index added 0.85%. South Korea’s Kospi index added 0.43% and Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 Index rose 1.3%. New Zealand’s NZX 50 Index advanced 0.5%. The Shanghai Composite lost 1.8% amid a flurry of initial public offerings (IPOs) expected today.

The SGX Nifty was up 25 points at 8,198. Indian markets are likely to open in green following positive trend seen in other Asian markets except China.